Valve grinding machine



April 5, 1938. H. A. slLvEN .VALVE GRINDING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1936 4 3 N Z/.MJ` p g m J n w 7 m .WYILI 3 07 5 K l an ww iw ,m E r o@ 4 a H l Z Z Z l 6 6J 3 a L w @0&9 mw L@ iii Patentedl Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .2,113,337 c vALvE GaiNnnvG MACHINE Herbert A. suven, worcester,

Hass., assignor to Norton Companygorcester, Mass., a corpora- Appiimion May z, issajseriai No. 77,553

13 Claims.

a grinding position while the other slide is beingv lo aded.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hydraulically operatedsemi-automatic valve grinding machine in which a dual work head is provided and arranged for semi-automatic control. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the fea--v tures of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the mechanical features of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the improved valve grinding machine, having parts broken away and shown in section, to show the operating construction, combined with a hydraulic piping diagram to show the operation of the machine; and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken throughy the left-hand work supporting and rotating spindle, showing the chuck or collet actuating mechanism and the work ejector.

A grinding machine has been illustrated in the drawing having a base I0 which supports a transversely movableV wheel slide Il. The wheel slide II is arranged to slide transversely relative to the base III on a V-way The wheel slide II supports a rotatable grinding wheel I4 mounted on the end 4of a rotatable wheel spindle I5 journaled in bearings (not shown) in the wheel slide Il. In order to drive the spindle, a well-known wheel driving mechanism may be employed, such as an overhead ,drive or a motor drive. As illustrated, the other end of the wheel spindle I5 is provided with a grooved pulley I8 Another object of this invention is I2 and at way I3.V

` 43 respectively. A

(cisl-i v which 1sconneca by driving beu-.s i1 with s similarly grooved pulls." Il mounted on the outer end vof a motor shaft Il. An electric motor 2l carrying the motor shaft YI9 is mbimted on the upper portion oi' the wheel slide II and servestc ro- 5 tate the wheel I4 at the desired grinding speed. The wheel slide II may be fed transversely in order to set up themachine or to compensate for grinding wheel wear by a manually operable ieed mechanism, such as that shown in the expired 1o U. S. Patent No. 762,838 to` C. H. Norton vdated June 14, 1904. The. wheel slide II is provided with a depending half nut 2I which meshes with or` engages a rotatablefeed screw 22. Further details of the wheel feed mechanism have not 15 `been illustrated or described since they are not considered part o1' the present invention. Reference may be had to the above-mentioned patent for further details of the feed mechanism.

A longitudinally movable work supporting table 25 is slidably mounted on a V-way 26 and a dat way 2l formed on-thezbase I0. In order to obtain a maximum production on the machine,` it is desirable lto provide a pair of work-Supporting spindles which may be arranged so that while one spindle is in a position to grind a valve,the other spindle is in an inoperative or loading position. In the preferredconstruction, the longitudinally movable work supporting table 25 supports a pair' of transversely movable. work heads l0 andv JI which are slidably mounted on ways 32 and l2 formed on the upper surface of the' table 2l.

The work supporting table 25 which supports the work heads 30 and II is arranged so that yit may be moved longitudinally relative to the vbase 35,

I0 to facilitate simultaneously adjusting the work l heads Il and 3| relative to the grinding wheel I4.

A manually operable traverse ymechanism has been illustrated in the drawing comprising a manually operable rotatable handtraverse wheel 40 240 which is mounted on the outer end of a rotatable shaft 24| y.'Iournaled in the base,y I l of the machine. The inner end of the shaft 24| is provided with a gear 242 whichk meshes with a rack bar 243 ,depending from the under sidev of ythe l5 longitudinally movable work table 25. `By manipulation of the hand wheel 240, the table 25 may be moved longitudinally to adJust the work heads lll and 31| relative to the operative face'o! the grinding wheel I4. y

A pair of cylinders 45 and 4I are xedly mount-l edon the frontvof the longitudinally movable table v45 and serve toslidably support ypistons 42 and pair of piston rods 44 and are connected with pistons 42` and 43 respecs3 tively. The inner ends of the piston rods 44 and 45 are connected to slides 20 and 3| respectively so that when the pistons 42 and 43 are vmoved within the cylinders 40 and 4| in either direction, a corresponding movement is imparted to the work slides 30 and 3| respectively.

The pistons and cylinders above described serve to cause a rapid approach of the work supporting slides 30 and 3| relative to the grinding wheel |4 or to rapidly remove the slide to an inoperative position. In order to produce a slow controlled feeding movement of the work support during the grinding operation, a feed regulating device is provided which is identical with that shown in my prior United States Patent No. 2,023,704 dated December 10, 1935 to which reference may be had for a detailed disclosure. The feed regulating device may comprise a dash pot cylinder which is fixedly mounted on the end of the cylinder 40. A dash pot piston 5| is slidably supported on the piston rod 44 and is contained within the dash pot cylinder 50; The rapid approaching movement of the -slide 30 continues until an adjustable sleeve 52 mounted on the end of the piston rod 44 'engages the end face of the dash pot piston 5|. Continued forward feeding movement of the work head 30 exhausts fluid' from the dash pot chamber through a needle valve 54 at a rate controlled by the aperture of the needle valve 54. By regulating the needle valve 54, the infeeding movement of the work head may be varied as desired.

A similar feed'regulator is provided for controlling the infeeding movement of the work head 3|. This regulator comprisesafdash pot cylinder which contains a piston 6| slidably mounted on the piston rod 45 and' contained within the dash pot cylinder 60. 'Ihe rapid lnfeed of the work head 3| continues until an adjustable bushing or sleeve 62 supported on the outer end of the piston rod 45 engages the end face of the dash pot piston 6| which serves to retard the forward advance of the Work head 3| as controlled by the aperture of Va needle valve 54. In order to supply the necessary fluid under pressure to operate the various mechanisms of the machine, a sump or reservoir I0 is preferably located within the base of the machine. Fluid is pumped from the reservoir 10 through a pipe 1| by means of a geared pump 12- which forces fluid outwardly through a pipe 13 and through a pipe 14 and a pipe 15 to a control valve 16. Fluid under pressure from the pipe I5 enters a valve chamber 11 and passes through a passage 18 into a cylinder chamber I9 to cause a forward feeding movement of the piston 42 and the work head 30 toward the grinding wheel I4. During the forward feeding movement of the slide 30, iiuid is exhausted from a cylinder chamber 80, through a passage 8| a valve chamber I2 and through a pipe 83 into the reservoir 10. kThe rapid infeeding movement `'of the slide `30 continues until the bushing or sleeve 52 engages the end of the dash pot piston 5| and thereby reduces the infeed from a rapid approaching movement to a controlled infeeding movement. o

Similarly, fluid underpressure from the pump I2 passes through a pipe 94, a pipe 35, to a control valve 96 for controlling the forward and rearward feeding movement of the work head 3|. Fluid under pressure passingA through. the pipe 95 enters a valve chamber 91 and passes through a passage y$3 into a cylinder chamber 99 to move the piston 43, the work head 3|, into an inoperative position so that the finish ground In the preferred operation of this improved valve grinding machine, it is desirable to synchronize the feeding movements of the work heads 3l and 3| so that while one of the work heads is in a grinding position to grinds. work piece, the other work head is in its inoperative or loading position. It is desirable that the movements of the two slides be automatically synchronized so that the slides will move in accordance with the desired cycle of operation. In

'order to accomplish this result, a main control valve ||0 isprovided in the fluid pressure system for automatically operating the control valves 16 and 96 in thedesired sequence. The valve ||0 is preferably of a piston type comprising a valve stem ||2 having formed integrally therewith valve pistons H3 and||4. 'Ihe valve stem ||2 is provided with an operating knob or handle by means of which thevalve may be readily shifted from one position to the other.

In theposition illustrated inthe drawing (Fig. 1), fluid under pressure passing through the pipe 94 passes through a pipe liiintoa valve chamber H6 and out through a pipe H1 into a valve chamber ||3 to shift the valve 10 into the position illustrated in the drawing. At the same time, duid passing out through pipe |I`|` passes into a valve chamber |20 at the rear of the valve 06 and serves to shift `the control valve 33 into the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. l, so as to cause a rearward or inoperative movement of the slide 3|. During this movement of the ides 3l and 3|, uid under pressure is exhausted from valve chamber`|2|, through a pipe |22, into a valve chamber |23, and through a pipe |24, into the reservoir 10. At the same time, fluid under pressure is exhausted from a valve chamber |25 formed in the lower portion of the valve 96, through a pipe |25, into valve chamber |23, and also exhausts through pipe |24, into the reservoir 1I. Y

After a work piece carried by the slide 3l has been Aground to the desired and predetermined extent, the knob is moved tofshift the valve stem ||2 into the reverse position so that iiuid under pressure entering through pipe H5, into valve chamber I6, passes outwardly through pipe |22, into the valve chamber |2|, toshift the control valve 'I6 into its reverse position. Fluid also passes through the pipe |26 into the valve chamber |25 to shift the valve 96 into its reverse position so that the work head 30 is moved rearwardly to an inoperative position while the work head 3| is moved forwardly to present a new piece of work to the grinding wheel |4 for a anlass? work supportingspindle |33 which is rotatably supportedin a bearing |3| in an upwardly exy tending portion |32 of the head 33. The spindle |53 is provided-with a driving pulley |33 which is connected by a driving belt |33 with a pulley |55 mounted'on the outer end of a motor shaft |33 which is inv turn contained within an electric driving motor |31 mounted on the upper sur-` face of the slide 33. 'I'he spindle |53 contains a collet or chuck |33 which serves as a support for a work piece, such as a valve |3|. A spring |33.

vwhich is contained within the vspindle |33 and is interposed between a shoulder |33 on the spindle |33 and a collar |35 mounted on the rear end of the collet |33, serves to hold the collet in a' clamped position to securely hold the `valve |3| chine.

end plate |12 iixedon the end oi" the collet |33 and collar |33 serves as a piston and slides'within the fluid chamber |13. Fluid under lpressure is admitted through a pipe |13 to move the collet |33 toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, against to the cylinder chamber |13 be' controlled in timed the tension of the spring |33 to unclamp the work piece |3|. l y

It is desirable that the iluid pressure'admitted .i relation with the movement oi the `machine parts.

to s

\ pipe |13, into the chamber |13, to cause the collet As illustrated, a control valve' |13 is mounted on the end oi the table 231 and has a valve stem |13 projecting therefrom and arranged inthe path of an adjustable dog |11 carried by the work head 33. Fluid under pressure from the pum 12 passes'y through the pipe 13,l the pipe 13 and through a pipe |13'into'a valve chamber |13. In

the position of the valve |13, as illustrated in Fig. 1, iiuid is cut oil' from the' pipe line |13. When `the work piece |3| has been ground to the required extent and the slide- 33 reverses and moves toward an inoperative position, the dog |11 engages the valve stem |13 and shifts the valve against a compression spring |33 so-that uid under pressure entering the valve chamber |13 passes outwardly through a pipe |3| and the to move toward the right (Fig. 2) to release the valve |3|. j

It is also desirable to provide a suitable electing means for rapidly ejecting the valve |3| after the collet has released the same. An ejector arm |33 is pivotally mounted on a stud |3| on the outer end of a slidably mounted rod |32. The other end of the rod^|32 is provided with apiston |33 which is slidably mounted within a cylinder bore |34 within the housing |32. Aspri'ng |33 normally holds the ejector |33 and the piston |33 in their rearward position. as illustrated in Pig. 2.

When fluid under pressure is admitted by the valve |13, through pipe |3| and pipe |13, to re- 1 lease the collet, iluid under pressure also is passed through a pipe |33 to cause the piston |33 to move rapidly toward the right and thereby eject the valve |3| from the collet |33. Y

A similar work head 233 is mounted on' the slide 3|. This headis provided with a rotatable spindle 23| having a driving pulley 332 connected by a `driving belt 233 with a pulley 233 carried by an electric motor 233. 'Ihe spindle 23| carriesv a spring collet or chuck 233 which serv as a vned by the-sudest.'

the main control valve 'cient distance admitted through" the pipes' 2|1 'andf2|3 tore--V -leas'e the collet' 233j-to unclamp 'the work piece and to actuate the 'eiector2l3 to' rapidly eject support for a'valve'231. A control valve 2|3 is carried on the end of table 23 and is provided with. a valve stem 2|| arranged inthe path of an adiustable dog 2|2 carried Vlay the slide 3|. Fluid under pressure passing through the pipe 33 passes When the slide 3| moves sumciently in a downward direction, as viewed iii- Fig. 1, to shift the valve 2I| into its vreverse position, liiuld under pressure enteringthe valve chamber 2I3 passes outwardly through a pipe 2|3 and a' pipe 2|1 into a chamber-.- corresponding to the chamber |13, toy

releasethe collet 'or chuck'233 and'at the same time passes througha pipe 2|3 into a .cylinder chamber which actuates an` eiector 2|3 carried by a rod 223 to eject the valve 2314trom the ma- Each of the work heads |32 and 233 isprovided with an adiustable'stop 223 whichhaseither a hardened metallic or` a diamond'pointtwhich" serves tolocate the face of the valves |3| and 231 v through a pipe y2|3 into a valve chamber 2|3. v

in a desired and predetermined relation with the chucks |33 and 233 respectively.

In the normal operation of this machine, the valves |3| and 231 may be manually loaded into the chucks|33 and 233 when the slides 33 and 3| respectively are in the chucks while. the'y rotated or, if desired, thespindles may be stopped duringv the loadingjperiod. A limit switchk 233 is -mounted'on the vend oi' the table 23 and is arranged in the path of an adjustable dog 23| caris carried at the other endo! the table 23and is l arranged in`A the path o f an adiustablefdog 233. The limit switches 233 and 232 are normally closed connected in'. series with limitswitchesand are l the electric motors" |31v and 233 n respectively. When the slide 33 or the slide 3| moves to an Pig. l, the slide 3| has moved a suiiicientdistance so that the dogv 233en8a8es the roller of the limit switch 232, andv continuedv movement" thereof serves to open thelimit switch and break" the circuit to stop the rotation of the motor!" sothatthe spindle rotationwill stop during the unload.- in'g and loading period; v

The operation'of this machlnefis readily.' apparent from the foregoing disclosure. Assuming the feeding mechanisms to be previously adjusted an' inoperative position. y f The valves may be manually'slidinto place in chucks are continuously Similarly. aI limit switch 232 inoperative'positiomsuch asslide 3| asshown in to obtain the desired sizing of`a workpiece. a

valve |3| has been inserted in the chuck |33 and sition of parts as shown in Fig. 1, which serves to admit iluid under pressure throughpipe ||1 into valve chamber ||3 to knob moved into the po- 5 shift the valve 13 into the Y position as illustratedin `Ii'ig. 1 so ythat fluid under pressure 'passing through" the pipe "vinto the valve chamber 11y is'a'dmitted into cylinder chamber 13 to cause' an inteedingmovement oi the work head 33. At lthe same time, iiuid under pressure is yadmitted to the valve chamber |23k to shift thevalve 33 into the position illustrated in Fig. i to admit iiuid'under pressure to cylinder chamber 33 to move the work head 3| rearwardly'v to an inoperative 2|2^engaging the the control valve 2`|3 and when thework'head 3| has moved through its inoperative strokeia sumto uncover the pipe 2|3. iiuid is 'the work piece `23'! from-the collet'233."

position'. The adjustable dos` valvestem 2|| serves tooperate A new work piece 201 may then be inserted in the collet and held inplace against an adjustable stop 220 which serves to locate the face of the valve in a predetermined relationship with the operative face of the grinding wheel Il.,

While the valve is placed in this position, the main control valve Hl is shiftedinto a reverse position which serves in the manner above described to shift the control valvesy and vSi into their reverse position to cause the work head 30 to move tol an inoperative position while the work head 3i moves the work piece 201 into an kfsaid heads, independent feeding means to move v operative grinding relationship with the wheel Il.

It Awill thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention apparatus in which the various objects hereinabove set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as vmany changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, itis to be y.understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted asillu'strativean'd notin a limiting sense.

I claimz v l. A grinding machine comprising a base, a rotatable grinding wheel, a transversely movable slide therefor, means to move said slide trans' versely to adjustthe position oi' the wheel relative to the base, a pair of [transversely movable work headsa rotatable work support on each of each of said heads transversely toward and from 'the grinding Wheel to grind a work piece to a predetermined size4 and to then return to an,y

inoperative position, and means including va single control handle to control said independent feeding mechanisms so that w-hen one of saidheads is moved togrind a work piece to the pre-` determined size, the otherhead is moved to an inoperative or loading positionT 2. A grinding machiner comprising a base. a rotatable grinding wheel, a transversely movable slide therefor, means to adjust the position of 'said slide relative tothe base, a` pair of trans- `versely movable work heads, an independent fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder rapidly to move each of vsaid heads transversely toward and from the grinding wheel, an independent feed regulator for each of said heads to slow down said Y pressure operated piston and cylinder to move each of said heads transversely relative to the grinding wheel, an independent manually operable control valve for each of said cylinders, and means to synchronize the movement of said valves so that whenone of said slides is moved to present a work piece for a grinding operationythe other slide is moved to an inoperative or loading position. e e

4. A grinding machine comprising abase, a rotatable grinding wheel, a transversely movable slidethereforme`ans to-adJust the position ofsaid slide relative to the ibase, s. longitudinally movabley work supporting table, means to move` said table longitudinally, a pair of transversely movable work heads on 'said table, an independent fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder interposed between each of saidslides and Lthe table. an independent manually operable control valve for each of said cylinders, and means to synchronize the movement of said valves so that when one of said slides is moved to present a work piece for a grinding operation, the other slide is moved to an inoperative or loading position.v

5. A grinding machine comprising a base, a rotatable grinding wheel,fa transversely movable slide therefor, means to move said slide transversely relative to the base, a longitudinally movable table on said base, means to traverse said table longitudinally, a pair of transversely movable workheads onsaid table, a rotatable work support on each of said heads, independent fluid pressure mechanisms including a piston and cylinder interposed between each of said heads and the table, a manually-operable control va1ve,oper ativelyconnected with each of said cylinders and arranged'to cause an independent movement of each of said slides towards and from the grinding wheel, and means including a main control valve whichis operatively connected to actuate said valves to cause one of said work heads to move toward the operative face of the grinding wheel vto grind a work piece `while the other head is moved to an inoperative or loading position.

6. A grinding machine comprising a base', a rotatable grinding wheel, a transversely movable -wheelslide therefor, means to move said slide Y rotatable work supporting chuck on said head,

means to rotate said chuck, means to actuate said chuck to clamp a workpiece therein, a fluid pressure mechanism including a piston and cyl- 'inder to release said chuck, and means' including a valve actuated automatically by said head when said head is movedaway from the grinding wheel to admit fluid under pressure to said cylinder to unclamp said chuck and thereby release the work piece. f

7. A grinding machine comprising a base, a rotatable grinding wheel, a transversely movable slide therefor, means to move said slide transversely, a longitudinally movable work table, a pair of transversely `movable heads on said table, means independently tofeed said heads transversely relative to said table, a rotatable work supporting chuck on each of said heads, means to independently rotate each of said chucks, means to actuateeach of said chucks to clamp s work piece therein, means including a fluid pressure piston and cylinder on each of said heads to release said chuck, and independent means on each of said heads which are actuated automatically when said heads are moved away from the grinding wheel to admit fluid under pressure to unclamp said chucks and thereby release the work pieces after a predetermined grinding operation has been completed. Y f

. 8.A grinding machine comprising a base, a

. rotatable grinding wheel, a transversely movable slide to support saidwheel, means to adjust said slide transversely relative to the base, s longitudinally movable table, means to move said table rlongitudinally relative to the base, a transversely vmovable work head on1said table which is arranged to move transversely toward and froml the grinding wheel, a rotatable work supporting chuck onsaid head, means including a nuid pressure piston and cylinder to cause a transverse feeding movement of said work head relative to the grinding wheel at a rapid ratea feed regulator to slow down said rapid. approach to a grinding feed, a control valve arranged to control the direction of movement of said head to grind a work piece to a predetermined size, and means actuated in timed relation with the movement of said head to an inoperative position to release said chuck and eject a work piece therefrom as the slide approaches an inoperative position.

9. A grinding machine comprising a base, a rotatable grinding wheel, a transversely movable slide therefor, means to move the slide transversely relative to the base, a longitudinally movable work supporting table, a pair of transversely movable work heads on said table, a rotatable work supporting chuck on each of said heads, means to independently rotate each of said chucks, a spring to actuate said chuck to clamp a work piece in said chuck, means including a piston and cylinder to release said chuck, means including a uid pressure actuated work ejector, and means actuated in timed relation with the movement of said head to an inoperative position to admit fluid under pressure to-unclamp said chuck and to actuate said ejector and thereby eject the ground piece of work from the chuck.

.10. A grinding machine comprising a base, a`

rotatable grinding wheel, a transversely movable slide therefor, means to move the slide transversely relative to the base, a longitudinally movable work table, a pair of transversely movable work heads on said table, a rotatable work supporting chuck on each of said heads, a spring actuated means to operate each of said chucks to clamp a work piece in a predetermined position therein, means including a fluid pressure piston and cylinder to actuate each of said chucks to release a work piece therefrom after a grinding operation, means including'a iiuid pressure piston and cylinder actuated work ejector, and a uid pressure system including a control valve actuated in timed relation with the movement of said heads to an inoperative position to admit fluid under pressure to the first cylinders to release said chuck and to the second cylinders to automatically eject a ground work said chuck.

l1. A grinding machinehaving a base, a rotatable grinding wheel, a transversely movable slide therefor, 'means to move the slide transversely relative to the base, a longitudinally movable work table, a pair of transversely movable work piece from heads on said table, a rotatable work supportingchuck on each oi said heads, a spring actuated means to clamp a work piece in said chuck, means including a' iluid pressure piston and cylinder to release said chuck,'means including a fluid pressure actuated piston and cylinder to eject a work piece from said chuck, means including an electric motor to drive each of said chucks, and

means actuated in timed relation with the movement of said head to an inoperative position .to stop the rotation of the work head while in an inoperative position.

l2. A grinding machine having a base, a rotat-l work supporting chuck on each of said heads, a'

spring to actuate each of said chucks to clamp a work piece in each of said chucks, means including a iluid pressure operated piston and cylinder to release each of said chucks, means including a fluid pressure actuated work ejector to eject a work piece from each of said chucks, means including an electric motor on each of said heads to positively rotate said chucks during a grinding operation, means to move said heads transversely relative to the grinding wheel .to move a work piece into operative relation with the grinding wheel and to .grind the same to a predetermined size. n

13. A grinding machine having a base, a rotattherefor, means to move said slide transversely relative to the base, a longitudinally movabley work table, a pair of transversely movable heads on said table, a rotatable ywork chuck on eachof said heads, a spring to actuate said clamp to secure a work piece in each of said chucks, means including a iluid pressure piston and cylinder to release said chuck after a work piece has been ground .to a predetermined size, means including a tiuid pressure actuated work ejector, means including an electric motor to rotate said chuck for a grinding operation, means including a control valve which is actuated in timed relation with the separating movement between the wheel and work support to admit fluid under pressure to release said chuck and to actuate said ejector. and means actuatedin timed relation therewith to stop the rotation of the chuck during `the unposition. 

